He will still be happy if the job is offered to the bookies favourite at the moment, Sven Goran Eriksson.

Fulham were left red faced in embarrassment by their failure to land Ajax boss Martin Jol last week. However, they will not be rushed into a panic appointment; they will wait until they get the best man for the job.

Klinsmann, who is hailed as the architect of Germany's impressive national team, has been out of work since leaving German giant Bayern Munich at the end of last season.

He is currently living in California and is not believed to have applied for any jobs.

He has said he is keen to manage in the Premier League side.

His name has been discussed at Fulham. Discreet enquiries are expected to be made, as the club are desperate to avoid another high-profile rejection.

Fulham will offer their next boss a 20 million pound transfer budget and a wage over two million pounds a year.

Apart from Klinsmann, who else is in the running for the job.

Eriksson has managed a Premier League team (Manchester City) and fancies the job, but Al Fayed is unconvinced.

Gareth Southgate, the former Middlesbrough boss, is a leading contender for a coaching job in Fabio Capello's England team, but has also put his name down for the job at Craven Cottage.

Ray Lewington, currently leading Fulham on a preseason tour of Sweden, is popular among players, and his inclusion in a coaching position is assured under the next manager.

Al Fayed insists he is happy for caretaker boss and Fulham stalwart Ray Lewington to remain in charge until he finds the right man.

No appointment will be made in the next few days, even though the start of the Premier League season is less than three weeks away .